Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer Shaped Bread

Give your homemade bread baking skills a whimsical twist by making this Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer. Or, use store-bought frozen bread dough and follow the instructions for forming and shaping. Either way, your family, and friends will be delighted to see Rudolph making an appearance at the holiday table!

While this Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer may look tricky to recreate, let me assure you, he is easier to make than you may think. Since bread dough is completely pliable, you can shape, squeeze, and mold it, much like your childhood favorite playdough! 

**Please Note – The printable recipe card with detailed instructions and complete ingredient measurements for making Whole Wheat Rudolph the Bread Nosed Reindeer is available near the end of this post. 

If you’re a frequent reader of my blog, then you know that I like to play with my food, I love to paint, and I love color! This Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer is a prime example of that.

The ingredient list for making Rudolph bread;

• whole wheat flour
• bread flour
• salt
• warm water
• active dry yeast
• sugar
• olive oil
• red, white and black gel food color (optional)
• egg

This holiday season, I’ve been all about painting pie crust, and bread dough. However, last year is the year I really broke out of my bread box with this Charming Buttermilk Honey Santa Bread. To this day, he’s still one of my favorites. This Santa bread is the one that made the biggest impression on my family last Christmas Eve when he joined us at the table for dinner. Ho Ho Ho!

I seriously can’t help myself. I just adore playing with my food, especially around the holidays!

Do you see any parallels between what I’ve been doing here? Of course, you do. I’m pretty much living out my childhood, through my food (and art). In many ways, you can say that I’ve never grown up, and I refuse to. Why start now? Case in point my Grinch Guacamole Appetizer.

Just imagine serving all three of these whimsical dishes for your next holiday dinner party. You’ll be the talk of the town, and you’ll no doubt have made memories for your family and friends that will live on for years to come!

Now, even though I’ve shown this Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer in fabulous technicolor, you certainly can make (and serve) him in his own brown and rustic form, sans color. He’ll still be just as cute, and just as delicious!!

Ditto goes for the Santa bread. It’s completely your call if you want to add color or not. I only urge you to make them as I know you’ll be delighted that you too can reproduce these whimsical treats with just a little bit of time and effort.

I’ve taken a ton of step-by-step photos to help you learn through visual tips and techniques for the making of this Rudolph bread. I know you’ll find the photos helpful. But feel free to use your own creativity if you’d like to break out and do your own thing. I totally applaud your style! 

Let’s begin baking.

*Please note – The rise time for this bread is quite long due to the use of the whole wheat flour and the density of this dough. Please plan accordingly. This technique for forming Rudolph can be used with any of your favorite bread doughs, and even store-bought frozen bread dough, which has been thawed according to the package directions. 

• In a large bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together 2 cups of bread flour, 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1½ teaspoons active dry yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1½ teaspoons kosher salt.  
• Switch to the dough hook and add 1 cup warm water (110 degrees, i.e. warm to the touch), plus 2 to 4 additional tablespoons water (depending on the humidity). You may or may not need the additional water. The dough should be soft and pliable, but not sticky.

• Continue kneading with the dough hook for 4-5 minutes.
• Turn the dough ball out onto the counter and knead by hand an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Oil the inside of the bowl with olive oil and return the kneaded dough back to the bowl and coat the top with oil.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place the bowl in a warm, draft-free place for the dough to double in volume (approximately 2-3 hours).

• Once the dough has doubled in volume, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Divide the dough into two pieces. One piece should be approximately 2/3’s and the other approximately 1/3.

• Take the larger piece of dough and flatten it out into a triangle shape to form Rudolph’s head. Don’t be afraid to press and push the dough to get the desired shape. 
• Place the triangle on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Press out the remaining 1/3 of the dough into a flatted semi-circle shape.

• Use a knife or a bench scraper to cut a log of dough off the long side of the semi-circle.
• Cut this log dough in half. These will be the antlers. 
• Dip each log dough tip into a bit of water (the water helps to attach the pieces of dough) and place each antler piece under the head of the reindeer.

• Use a small paring knife to make cuts into the antlers.
• Return back to the remaining dough and cut a log from the long side, and divide in half for his ears.

• From each half, cut a tiny equal piece for the eyes. Roll each piece for his eyes to form two small, round balls.
• *Note – a touch of extra water may be helpful to roll the balls without having too many creases, and make them smoother (if required).
• Form the ears into a pointy end, and flatten until you get your desired shape.
• Dip the end of the ears in the water…

• Attach the ears to the head of the reindeer and press firmly to attach.
• Place water on the base of the head where you’ll be attaching the muzzle.
• With the last piece of remaining dough, break off a piece large enough for Rudolph’s red nose and roll into a ball (using extra water to make the ball smoother, if needed). 
• Press the final piece of dough into a teardrop shape.

• Lay the muzzle onto the bottom portion of the head shape, pressing firmly (yet lightly, so no finger marks show) onto the head.
• Attach his eyes and nose using a small amount of water and press to attach.
• Allow the reindeer to rise in a warm draft-free place for at least 60 minutes. 

• Brush Rudolph with an egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water) and bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for until he turns golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped (approximately 25-30 minutes).
• Remove from the oven and cool completely on a rack before adding color (optional).

As I said, if you’d rather not add color to your reindeer after he’s baked, he’s still cute and still delicious. But, if you do decide to add color, I was on Facebook live last week with a quick seven-minute video which illustrates the technique I used to bring him to life with only three colors and a little bit of water.

I’m still new to the world of live videos so I apologize in advance that this video was filmed on its side. Doh! In any case, I hope you’ll enjoy watching anyway. 😉

The following Amazon.com items are some suggested products I’ve chosen that will aid you in the making (and serving) of this recipe for Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer if needed. By clicking on the item, you’ll be taken directly to Amazon.com if you’re interested in purchasing any of these products. You are in no way required to do so, and you will not be charged in any way unless you decide to purchase a product through Amazon.

Below is the printable recipe card for today’s Whole Wheat Rudolph the Bread Nosed Reindeer. If you’ve enjoyed this recipe and look forward to making it (or have already made it), I’d appreciate if you’d take a moment to give it some feedback by way of stars near the comment section at the end of this post. Thank you so much!

5 from 1 vote

Print

Whole Wheat Rudolph the Bread Nosed Reindeer

Prep Time

5 hrs

Cook Time

30 mins

rise time

1 hr 30 mins

Total Time

5 hrs 30 mins

 

Give your homemade bread baking skills a whimsical twist by making this Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer. Or, use store-bought frozen bread dough and follow the instructions for forming and shaping. Either way, your family, and friends will be delighted to see Rudolph making an appearance at the holiday table!

Course: Side Dish, Yeast Bread

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas bread, Rudolph bread

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 115 kcal

Renee - Kudos Kitchen: Renée - Kudos Kitchen

Ingredients

• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1½ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup warm water 110 degrees plus 3-4 additional tablespoons depending on humidity.
• olive oil

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. To make the dough:

2. Place the first 5 ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk to combine.

3. Gradually add the warm water and use the dough hook to knead the dough into a ball.
4. *Note - if the dough seems to dry, add additional warm water 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
5. Continue kneading with the dough hook for 4-5 minutes.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for an additional 2-3 minutes.
7. Return the dough back into the bowl which has been oiled with olive oil.
8. Place a thin coat of oil on top of the bread ball.
9. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft free place until doubled in volume (approximately 2-3 hours).

10. Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface and follow with the photo tutorial instructions for forming, and coloring the Whole Wheat Rudolph Bread Nosed Reindeer found here:  https://www.kudoskitchenbyrenee.com/whole-wheat-rudolph-bread-nosed-reindeer/

11. Once formed, allow the bread to rest again for 40 minutes. 

12. bake the bread in a preheated 425-degree oven for 30 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped, and is golden brown. Cool completely before serving and decorating with the gel food color (if desired).

Recipe Notes

https://www.kudoskitchenbyrenee.com/2016/12/whole-wheat-rudolph-bread-nosed-reindeer.html ‎

Nutrition Facts

Whole Wheat Rudolph the Bread Nosed Reindeer

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 115

% Daily Value*

Sodium 196mg 8%

Potassium 71mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 23g 8%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Protein 4g 8%

Calcium 0.7%

Iron 3.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Believe me when I tell you that I feel blessed to do what I love to do every single day, and I’m very grateful to be able to share it all with you. From my hand painted glassware and fabrics to my recipes, the fact that you come here to spend a little bit of time with me really makes me very, very thankful!!

I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed today’s recipe for Whole Wheat Rudolph the Bread Nosed Reindeer as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to you!

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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!

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